A look at ZPMC: how it came to dominate ports around the world; its role in Chinese foreign policy; and the consequences of its links to the Chinese state.
A ZPMC ship carrying gantry cranes destined for Husky Terminal at the Port of Tacoma, Washington, March 6, 2019. Credit: The Northwest Seaport Alliance
On March 29, 2013, in the middle of a large loading dock at the port of Miami, former U.S. President Barack Obama was set to deliver a key speech on promoting U.S. infrastructure development. But minutes before his speech started, a big gust of wind blew off an American flag that had been strapped to one of the container cranes.
An event staffer quickly tried to fix it, but gave up and took the flag away. Now, observers could see the label behind it: “ZPMC” and the Chinese characters “振华” — which stood for Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, a crane manufacturer and subsidiary of the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), one of China’s largest state-owned companies.
Then President Obama speaking at the Port of Miami Tunnel project, March 29, 2013. Credit: Tech ARP
Obama’s staffers likely thought that prominently displaying the name of a Chinese company would not jibe with a speech aimed at promoting the strength of American manufacturing. But now,
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